After announcing the arrival of the Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid in America from November, now the German manufacturer released pricing of this sporty but efficient SUV. And it has a base price of $67,700, which is considerably less than its American rival Cadillac Escalade Hybrid which costs around $73K. And while the Caddy is by far the better looking car, the Porsche is better at everything else!
So the Cayenne S Hybrid can do 21 mpg city/25 highway under current EPA regulations which is impressive, but even more impressive is the performance. This big and heavy hybrid does 0 to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds and has top speed of 150 mph. When it’s running in electric power mode, it can reach 37 mph max.
Unlike other “S” Porsches, the Cayenne S Hybrid does not have a V8. It is powered by a supercharged V6 and an electric motor which together put out a combined power output of 380 horsepower.
Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid Drivetrain Details:
Through continuous interaction between the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and electric motor, the Cayenne S Hybrid focuses on maximum efficiency. Depending on driving conditions, either drive unit can operate independently or together. The 47-horsepower (34 kW) electric motor is the ideal partner for the 333-horsepower engine, which produces high torque at low engine speeds, with peak torque at 428 lb-ft at just 1,000 rpm.
Both power units are connected by a decoupling clutch, which ensures that the Cayenne S Hybrid may be driven either by the electric motor or the combustion engine alone, or by both drive units together. The Hybrid Manager constantly coordinates their complex interaction, and intelligent management of the clutch makes the transition among various driving modes seamless and comfortable.
Again, what separates the Cayenne S Hybrid from conventional hybrid vehicles is its ability to ‘sail’ or coast when it does not need drive power and the driver lifts off the accelerator at cruising and highway speeds. In this mode the gasoline engine is switched off and disengaged from the drivetrain, enabling the vehicle to move along without combustion or electric power with engine drag forces and their braking effect being eliminated to reduce driving resistance. As soon as the driver presses the accelerator in the sailing mode, to pass another vehicle for example, the gasoline engine smoothly starts within a fraction of a second and engine rpms are increased to match the current vehicle speed. Thanks to the Hybrid Manager, the Cayenne S Hybrid is able to accelerate dynamically in gears at higher speeds much like a conventional Cayenne.
The hybrid system uses a 288-volt nickel metal-hydride (NiMh) battery fitted beneath the luggage compartment and regenerative braking, the process of storing electricity regained from applying the brakes and driving under normal conditions. This energy is then available for boosting and electric drive, again saving fuel in the process.
The North American Cayenne lineup also includes the Cayenne, Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo. They are powered by a 300-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 in the Cayenne, a 400-horsepower 4.8-liter V8 in the Cayenne S, and a 500-horsepower twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 in the Cayenne Turbo. The Cayenne, Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo SUV models are on sale now, and their base MSRPs (excluding destination charges) are as follows: Cayenne, $46,700; Cayenne S, $63,700; and Cayenne Turbo, $104,800.
